Maoists near Poon Hill

[Anatoliy]

Here is a story from a Russian trekker who just came back from the Annapurna region. He said he ran into some dozens of armed guerrillas near Ghorepani, who at first showed no interest in tourists. At night however, a few came to his lodge to collect RS 1000 from each foreigner staying there, giving receipts to those who paid (some apparently refused to pay.) In the morning, he and others went to climb the Poon Hill. On the way they passed "some kind of a fence with a gate in it." When they went back down, the Maoists were already at that gate checking the receipts and those who did not have them were "held up."

This does not sound good since that area, if I understand correctly, so far has not been associated with the Maoist activity.

[yakshaver]

Indeed Ghorepani and Chomrong checkposts have been reported by a few trekkers this season as being checkposts where the moaists collect 1000 rupees in taxes. Everyone reports what you, Anantoliy, and what jj says... If you pay the 1000 rupees, you receive a receipt and there is no trouble.